MANILA -- Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel on Monday defended his decision to import some 4,000 tons of onions a few weeks ahead of the harvest season, saying that the “limited volume” is “not even enough to fill in the perceived gap” in local demand for the crop.

There is a 7,000-ton deficit of onions in the country, and the full harvest from local farmers does not come in until the third week of March, Tiu Laurel told reporters in a briefing in Malacañang.

Agri dept allows more onion imports

“In-open natin yung market for only 4,000 tons for white and red [onions]. It’s not even enough to fill in the perceived gap,” he said.

“Mahirap naman na wala kang gawin, hayaan na lang maghintay ng sitwasyon kung kailan maghaharvest ang mga farmers,” he said.

“I have to think of the consumers also, not just the farmers.”

The DA chief described his decision as “very tactical,” underscoring that the imported produce would only come in “limited volume” and “limited quantity.”

“Sa onions, everyone is entitled to their own opinion… But I’m here to manage the situation,” he said.

Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) shows monthly consumption is 17,000 metric tons for red onions and 4,000 metric tons for white onions.

As of mid-January, BPI reported that red onion stocks in storage stood at 8,500 metric tons, while white onion stocks were at 1,628 metric tons.

Onion farmers' cry: Why increase imports during harvest season?

Meantime, the DA said it has blacklisted at least 16 importers with cases already filed against 4 companies.